Springfield – A bill passed by the Senate by state Sen. Elzie R. Sims Jr. would help parents better understand the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in their children.
“Type 1 diabetes education is not just a tool; it's a lifeline that can give kids guidance on better self-care and resilience,” said Rep. Sims (D-Chicago). “Schools have the opportunity to make a difference in both their students' education and their health.”
The proposal spearheaded by Sims will provide students and their families with more information about the symptoms, interventions and treatment of type 1 diabetes. Senate Bill 3473 The bill would require the Illinois State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health to compile and post resources about the disease on the ISBE website, and public and charter schools would also distribute the information to parents and guardians when enrolling their children.
More than 300,000 children nationwide have type 1 diabetes, yet many children and their families are unaware for years, often only realizing later in life that symptoms such as thirst and weight loss are due to an underlying condition called diabetes.
“When a child is diagnosed with diabetes, parents are often anxious and unsure of where to turn,” Sims says. “Having a one-stop shop for education and treatment options can go a long way to helping parents navigate this unknown.”
Senate Bill 3473 The bill passed the Senate on Friday and will now be sent to the House for further consideration.